17 Feb 2017

Abstract.

A relatively simple model is presented where the beliefs of agents
and their social network co-develop. Agents can either hold or not each
of a fixed menu of candidate beliefs. Depending on their type, agents
have different coherency functions between beliefs, so that they are
more likely to adopt a belief from a neighbour or drop a belief where
this increases the total coherency of their belief set. With given
probabilities links are randomly dropped or added but, if possible,
links are made to a “friend of a friend”. The outcomes when both belief
and link change processes occur are qualitatively different from either
alone, showing the necessity of representing both cognitive and social
processes together. Some example results are shown which moves a little
towards modelling the processes behind divisive collective decisions,
such as the Brexit vote.